Fuck my life.
Stepping into the elevator, I hit the button that will take me to the top floor. I watch as the numbers climb, thinking about everything on my schedule and everything that’s not but still needs to get done today. I’m already feeling Sam’s absence and Sawyer’s presence. To say that I was flabbergasted when I walked off the elevator and saw her with Gail is an understatement.
In my mind, Sawyer was going to be mine. After years of not being interested, she lit a spark inside me. I waited all weekend for her call, the one that never came. I was surly to her yesterday, unintentionally. However, at work, I can’t be the sweet guy who helped her overcome a panic attack. I have to be a leader. Not to mention, I was already in a sour mood because she never called.
Fucking Jase. I blame him for this. He had to relentlessly pursue Sam, and eventually knock her up. He’s lucky that she’s in love with him, and he with her, or I’d have to make his life hell. Who am I kidding? I’ll do that anyway. That’s what best friends are for, right? Besides, he did this. He put Sawyer in my path, on the plane, in the seat next to me. He made me push a few bricks from my sturdily constructed walls and open up to her. This is all on Jase.
That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.
The elevator doors slide open, and I step off. I make my way around the corner and freeze. There in front of me is an ass shaking in the air. Not just any ass, no, this one is spectacular. Round and tight, an ass that makes a man want to fall to his knees and worship. Before I can speak a word, the owner of the ass stands and turns to face me.
“Oh, Mr. Riggins, I mean, Royce, good morning.” A red-faced, flustered Sawyer stumbles over her words as she greets me.
“Sawyer.” I acknowledge her and stare down at the floor to a potted plant. “What are you doing?”
“The plant was dying. I took it down to repot it.” She points at the corner of the desk where the plant used to be. “I noticed it was too big for the pot, but now I can’t seem to lift it back up there.” She bends over again, giving me another grand view of her fine ass.
“You came in early to repot a plant?” I ask, needing clarification.
“Yes. I’m always early, and I noticed that this thing needed some love, or it was going to die.”
“So, you what? Lugged up a new bigger pot and potting soil?” Again, I need to make sure I understand the situation I just walked in on. She’s a little thing to be lugging all that around. I don’t like the thought of her struggling, but I push it down.
“Yes, well, not exactly. Harvey at the door helped me. He had a dolly, which made it so much easier,” she explains, and then leans over the pot and tries to lift it.
“Move.” My voice is deep, and the one-word command is taken as such as she huffs and stands, stepping out of the way. With ease, I bend down and lift the potted plant. “Where do you want it?” I ask her.
“There, on the corner where it was.” She motions toward the corner of her desk.
“Isn't this thing too big to be sitting there?”
“Am I allowed to move it?” she asks.
“Now you ask permission?” I shake my head.
“Well, I think it would look nice there, by the seating.” She points to the small row of chairs where guests wait to meet with one of my brothers or me.
“Are you sure that’s where you want it?”
“Isn’t that… heavy?” she asks. Her eyes rake over me as if she sees under my clothes. My body heats and my cock twitches. Just days ago, I wanted nothing more than those green eyes to devour me. And those soft hands, I wanted them everywhere. I still do.
“No.” I carry the potted plant with ease to where she pointed next to the guest seating.
“Perfect. Thank you, Royce.”
Is it just me or does my name seductively roll off her tongue? Did I forget to mention that in addition to a great ass, my new assistant is the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid my eyes on? It sounds like a good problem to have, right? Beautiful woman at my beck and call. It’s not. Trust me.
My dick needs to stay far away from her. I can’t and won’t mix business with pleasure. Any intentions that I had for us are now squashed. She’s my employee, and I won’t cross that line. The future of Riggins Enterprises rests on my shoulders. Sure, my brothers are here with me, but I’m the CEO. Ultimately, it all lies with me. I need to stay focused, and lusting after the sexy Sawyer is not the way to do that. I don’t have it in me to give more than that. To anyone. Not anymore. Sure, I let myself get lost in the moment, the connection we shared on the plane, but the flight landed, and she walked away.